Adams 10 Australian National Championship 2023

The Adams 10 owners and sailors are a self-deprecating bunch that cheerfully point out the cost effectiveness their chosen boat, happily chiding each other about whose is the oldest and what particular original fitting has been discarded in the name of holding their own on the course.
But don’t be fooled, this is a highly competitive mob that enjoys some very close racing in boats of all ages, as was on show for the last day of the Adams X Nationals hosted by the RPAYC for three days last week. After two days of gusty and exhausting westerlies, the light easterly on the final day of racing was very welcome for the ten crews, once it had settled down.
Tom Braidwood and Jason Akers’s ‘Backchat’ had an almost unassailable lead going into the last day and was eventually able to ‘stay out of everyone’s way’ by trailing the fleet for the last race. As if to emphasise the owners’ insistence that even the oldest boats can be competitive, Garry Gudmunsons’ ‘Organised Chaos’ took out second place in his 1980 vintage boat, while Allen Stormon had to settle for third place with ‘Gezzabelle’ after a late bid for a second place fell just short.
It’s been a long time between drinks since the RPAYC hosted the Adams X Nationals, but PRO Steve Merrington and his team set some great courses, which also involved a very watchful on-water umpire policing infringements and keeping crews out of the protest room.
The Bow Caddy Media team was on the water for the final day of racing to capture the action and close mark roundings.
And for those for whom this style of friendly, affordable and competitive sailing sounds appealing, you have 12 months to get a boat organised and head to Lake Macquarie for the 2024 Nationals.